A sensational Moser in Siena The Strade Bianche race is his / Photo

Milano, 02 marzo 2013

The Cannondale racer from the Trento region, nephew of the great Francesco, gets the jump on his teammate Sagan, Nocentini and Cancellarea. It the first Italian victory ever over the dusty Siena roads.

Moreno. This was no Saronni style win, it was a typical Moser win. Moreno Moser, the Strade Bianche race is his. The first time an Italian rider has won the most earthy, dusty, silent, natural and heroic race on the circuit. Francesco's nephew began to stake his claim to the race twenty kilometres out: at first by responding to an attack by Flecha, then chasing down the four fugitives Schael, Belkov, Ermeti and Saramotins before leading from the front without ever letting the hungry pack catch him and releasing his attacking on the last climb before diving down the narrow streets which lead the riders into the Piazza del Campo. Twenty two formidable and outrageously precocious years of age, if one just considers the courage and energy allied to the cool head and wisdom he has shown in a race that has become a classic like the Tour of Flanders or the Paris-Roubaix.

HERITAGE Moreno Moser has won because he had the legs and the wits, because he could rely on such a loyal and winning teammate (so much so that he came in second) as Peter Sagan, because he wasn't the number 1 favourite, that was Fabian Cancellara and because from his family heritage he has not just inherited the surname (and the wine) but also the spirit and soul. He pedals hard when on his bike, but once off it he keeps his feet on the ground. The finishing positions were decided on the last hill: Nocentini coming in an excellent third, Cancellara a brave fourth, Reda a worthy eighth, with a generous Caruso finishing ninth.

WORDS A few comments from the winner's press conference: "I just played it by ear: there's little room for tactics in races like these. I could see we were gaining on the four ahead and I tried to force the issue". The finishing stages: "At the end there I had to risk losing... When the pack was gaining ground I feared they'd catch me but on the other hand I knew I had to wait to sprint on the last hill if I wanted to win the race. Plus, what kept me so "cool" was the knowledge that I had my teammate Peter Sagan in the pack just behind me and if they'd managed to catch me he was certain to win anyway." The Strade Bianche race: "I've always thought the Strade Bianche was very suited to my way of racing because ever since my early racing days I've always performed best in races where you're soon "out on your own" and tailing the man in front of you doesn't make that much difference. From this point of view I think I do resemble my uncle Francesco." Upcoming appointments: "My race program won't change much after this victory. Now I'll line up at the start of the Tirreno-Adriatico followed by the Milano-Sanremo and the second part of the classic Belgian races.